Low frequency damping and ultrasonic attenuation in Ti₃Sn-based alloys

Studies of high-temperature alloys in the Ti-Sn system based on the intermetallic compound Ti₃Sn have identified alloys that damp strongly both at low frequencies (0.1 to 10 Hz) and high frequencies (5 to 20 MHz). The low frequency damping behavior shows loss factors as high as 0.04 at room temperature and Young's moduli that rise with temperature from 40 °C to 100 °C for two alloys. Although the basic mechanism or mechanisms of energy dissipation are presently unknown, the alloys are notable for unusual shapes of microhardness indentations. The deformations imply that large reversible strains can occur at temperatures from 23 °C to 1150 °C.